Anthony Bass takes the hill today, making his second career start as the Padres look to complete a three-game sweep of the Rockies and grab their fifth win in the last six games. Bass’ first career start came in his Major League debut on June 13, also at Colorado. In that game, he tossed 5.0 innings of one-run ball to pick up the win.

This afternoon’s game also marks the final road game of the season, with the team coming home for a six-game homestand (9/23-28) to wrap up the 2011 campaign. The Padres are 35-45 away from home this year.

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Cory Luebke grabbed his sixth win of the season last night, working 7.0 innings of one-hit ball while striking out a career-high-tying nine Rockies. Ernesto Frieri finished off the game, striking out three over the final two frames to complete the one-hitter. The only hit by the Rockies came on a two-out homer by Mark Ellis in the sixth inning.

The Padres, one of two Major League teams who have yet to throw a no-hitter (also the Mets), have now recorded 25 one-hitters in franchise history. That total includes five over the past three seasons (three in 2009; one in 2010). Last night’s effort marked the eighth combined one-hitter by the Padres.

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The Padres today reinstated Chris Denorfia from the disabled list, returning the outfielder to the Big League roster for the first time since he was originally placed on the DL August 6 with a strained right hamstring. . He made two separate rehabilitation stints, hitting .261 (6-for-23) with two doubles, two RBI, one run scored and three walks in nine games played total between Triple-A Tucson and Single-A Lake Elsinore.

The addition of Denorfia follows a number of claims/call-ups that are par for the course once September hits each year. Over the last week, the Friars have added Jeremy Hermida (claimed off waivers), Jeff Fulchino (claimed off waivers), Brad Brach (selected from minors), Luis Martinez (recalled from minors), Drew Carpenter (claimed off waivers), Anthony Rizzo (recalled from minors), James Darnell (recalled from minors) and Denorfia. With all those moves, the Padres now have 32 players on their active roster.

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The Padres are back in town, looking to turn the tables on their current losing streak. They’ll have a couple new faces in the clubhouse to help them get back on track as they claimed outfielder Jeremy Hermida and pitcher Jeff Fulchino this week.

Hermida, 27, has hit .111 (2-for-18) with one home run, three RBI and two runs scored in 10 games for Cincinnati this season. In 105 games from Triple-A Louisville he has hit .319 (126-for-395) with 28 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 67 runs scored and 46 walks. The outfielder was named an International League midseason All-Star this year. Over parts of seven Major League seasons with the Florida Marlins (2005-09), Boston Red Sox (2010), Oakland Athletics (2010) and Reds (2011), he has hit .258 (502-for-1948) with 101 doubles, seven triples, 64 home runs, 242 RBI and 243 runs scored in 599 games played.

Fulchino, 31, is 1-4 with a 5.18 ERA (19 ER/33.0 IP) and 31 strikeouts against 18 walks in 36 relief appearances for Houston this season. Over parts of five Major League seasons with Florida (2006), Kansas City (2008) and Houston (2009-11), Fulchino is 9-10 with a 4.47 ERA (93 ER/176.2 IP), 76 walks and 160 strikeouts in 160 Major League games out of the bullpen. The Hollis, N.H., native, who attended the University of Connecticut, has made 17 relief appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City this year, posting a 1-0 record with three saves, an 0.56 ERA (1 ER/16.0 IP), three walks and 15 strikeouts.

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The Padres’ streak continues as they pulled off a dramatic 7-5 win over the Giants last night. The Friars have now won five straight and 13 of their last 19. Over that 19-game stretch, the Padres are outscoring their opponents 118-78, averaging 6.2 runs/game while hitting .292 with a .352 OBP and .466 SLG.

Due to the offensive surge, the Padres now rank among the league leaders in several offensive categories since the All-Star break, including runs scored (2nd), hits (4th), doubles (6th), triples (1st) and batting average (6th). They are 20-18 since the break, one of just six NL clubs to play over .500 ball since the Midsummer Classic.

Now, it’s time to get a little nerdy on you…

Keep in mind that these are just numbers and obviously what happens on the field day-to-day rightfully determines a team’s win-loss record. I point this out JUST FOR FUN.

Despite the Padres’ record, the club has actually outscored their opponents 503-497 this season. They join the Diamondbacks as the only two NL West teams to score more runs than they have allowed in 2011. In fact, according to baseball-reference.com, the Padres’ Pythagorean win-loss record is 66-64, tops in the NL West (ARI 65-64; COL 65-65; LAD 62-66; SF 62-67).

Again, this is JUST FOR FUN. For more information on what exactly a Pythagorean winning percentage is, here is the explanation straight from baseball-reference.com (might want to brush up on your order of operations first):

“Pythagorean winning percentage is an estimate of a team’s winning percentage given their runs scored and runs allowed. Developed by Bill James, it can tell you when teams were a bit lucky or unlucky. It is calculated by

(Runs Scored)^1.83/[(Runs Scored)^1.83 + (Runs Allowed)^1.83]

The traditional formula uses an exponent of two, but this has proven to be a little more accurate.”

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Today is a big day in Padreland, capping off a big weekend. On the heels of last night’s 14-1 win and Dierks Bentley concert, the Friars will look to complete the four-game sweep of the Fish this afternoon, following the Trevor Hoffman retirement ceremony. A quick reminder if you are headed to today’s game…be sure to get here early for the pregame ceremony. Plan to be in the seats by 12:30 this afternoon.

The Padres enter today’s series finale looking for their second sweep of the Marlins this season. The Padres have won all six of their matchups against Florida this year. They have claimed each of the last seven dating back to last season and 14 of the last 18 dating back to August 28, 2009.

A quick note on the Padres improved offense since the All-Star break, courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau: The Padres scored 14 runs on Saturday, increasing their average of runs per game since the All-Star Game to 5.2, third-highest in the Major Leagues since the break. Prior to the break, San Diego had averaged 3.3 runs per game, the lowest in the Major Leagues. No team has finished in the top three in the Majors in runs per game after the break after being last in that category before the All-Star Game.

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Yesterday was a big day for the Padres as they agreed to terms with three of their top draft selections on the final day of signing. As is customary with the early picks from each year, it came down to the last minute and the Padres landed a bevy of talent to add to their minor league system.

The club yesterday signed right-handed pitcher Joe Ross, selected in the first round, right-handed pitcher Michael Kelly, selected in the compensation round and catcher Austin Hedges, selected in the second round.

When all the dust settled, the Padres signed 26 of their top 27 picks from this year’s draft.

Here is a little bit of info on the newest Padres, straight from the press release:

Ross, 18, was selected 25th overall in the first round by the Padres. The right-hander was selected out of Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif., where he posted a 0.83 ERA and 95 strikeouts over 67.2 innings during his senior campaign.

Kelly, 18, was selected 48th overall in the compensation round (for right-handed pitcher Jon Garland). He was selected out of West Boca Community High School (FL). The right-hander played in the 2010 Aflac All-American Baseball Classic at PETCO Park.

Hedges, 18, was the Padres’ second-round selection out of Junipero Serra High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. The right-handed hitter was rated as the 12th-best position player prospect in the 2011 draft class by Baseball America, as well as one of the best defensive catchers.

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Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland, acquired from Texas in exchange for Mike Adams, have each made one start for the Padres’ Double-A San Antonio affiliate, helping the Missions to a three-game sweep over Corpus Christi. Erlin is set to make his second start today.

In their first starts, the two newest Padres combined to allow one run over 12.0 innings, surrendering just eight hits and one walk while striking out 13. Erlin tossed 6.0 shutout frames with six K’s while Wieland worked 6.0 innings of one-run ball with seven K’s.

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The Pads completed the three-game sweep over the Buccos with a 7-3 win yesterday. Over the weekend, the Padres outscored their opponent 35-10, hit .336 with a .403 OBP, belted five home runs and hit .356 with runners in scoring position. The Friars pitching staff struck out 23 over the weekend, averaging 7.7 per game. With yesterday’s win, San Diego has now taken 13 of the last 15 matchups against the Pirates.

The Padres take their four-game winning streak to the Big Apple today to kick off a four-game set against the Mets. It will be the first meeting between the two clubs this season. Dating back to the beginning of the 2007 season, the Padres have gone 17-9 against the Mets without ever losing consecutive games. They are 6-6 in New York over that stretch, including a 3-3 mark at Citi Field. The Padres won the first ever game played at Citi Field, recording a 6-5 victory in the Mets’ home opener in 2009.

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The Padres pulled the trigger on a trade this morning, sending Mike Adams to the Rangers in exchange for two of Texas’ top pitching prospects, LHP Robbie Erlin and RHP Joe Wieland.

Erlin, 20, has gone 8-4 with a 3.34 ERA (45 ER/121.1 IP), a .219 (98-for-448) opponents batting average and 123 strikeouts against 12 walks over 20 games, 19 starts, between Single-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Frisco this season. The southpaw was rated as the Rangers’ fourth-best prospect heading into the 2011 season by Baseball America and was recently rated as the 34th-best prospect in all of baseball in Baseball America’s Midseason Top 50 Prospects list. He was selected by Texas in the third round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Scotts Valley High School (CA). Over parts of three minor league seasons in the Rangers organization (2009-11), Erlin has gone 14-7 with a 2.74 ERA (73 ER/240.0 IP) and 257 strikeouts against 30 walks in 51 games, 36 starts.

Wieland, 21, has gone 10-3 with a 1.80 ERA (26 ER/129.2 IP), a .233 (113-for-486) opponents batting average and 132 strikeouts against 15 walks over 21 games, 20 starts, between Single-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Frisco this season. The right-hander recently tossed a 9.0-inning no-hitter on Friday, July 29, against the Padres’ Double-A affiliate at San Antonio. He was selected by Texas in the fourth-round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Bishop Manogue High School (NV). Over parts of four minor league seasons in the Rangers organization (2008-11), Wieland has gone 30-17 with a 3.32 ERA (149 ER/404.1 IP) and 379 strikeouts against 72 in 79 games, 70 starts.

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